Modular Hopper Tee and Method of Using Same

ABSTRACT

A modular hopper tee including a modified tee box, a tee box liner, a readily detachable inflow adapter for coupling a first pipe to the tee box and a readily detachable outflow adapter for coupling a second pipe to the tee box, the liner and adapters being constructed from an elastomeric polymer such as polyurethane. Each of the inflow and outflow adapters includes a flange portion and a cylinder portion extending through the flange portion, the flange portion dividing the cylinder portion into a first cylinder portion that extends through a sidewall opening of the tee box and sealingly engages the liner and a second cylinder portion that is located outside of the box. A metal cylinder member, which is embedded within the first cylinder portion and surrounds an exterior of the second cylinder portion, is provided for reinforcing the adapter.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/196,770, filed on Jul. 24, 2015, and titled “Modular Hopper Tee andMethod of Using Same,” the entire contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hopper tee, and more particularly, toa modular bottom drop hopper tee including a modified tee box, a tee boxliner, a readily detachable inflow adapter for coupling a first pipe tothe tee box and a readily detachable outflow adapter for coupling asecond pipe to the tee box, the liner and adapters being constructedfrom an elastomeric polymer such as polyurethane.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hopper tees are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,318discloses a molded hopper tee for a hopper truck. The molded hopper teeincludes a first vertically directed hollow pipe section including alaterally outwardly directed flange at an upper end thereof forattachment to the bottom of a hopper. A second hollow pipe sectionextends transversely to the first hollow pipe section and extends beyondthe first hollow pipe section on opposite sides thereof and terminatesin opposite free ends for attachment to pipeline tubing at a dischargelocation. Bulk granular material particles are pneumatically unloadedfrom the hopper and routed first through the vertically and horizontallydirected hollow pipe sections and then into the pipeline tubing. Theintegral first and second hollow pipe sections are integrally moldedfrom a polymer material.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,396 discloses a one-piece hopper tee including avertically directed hollow pipe section having a laterally outwardlydirect flange at an upper end thereof for attachment to the bottom of ahopper truck. At the other end of the vertical pipe section, atransversely extending hollow pipe section is provided, with theopposite free ends thereof capable of being attached to pipeline tubing,through which pneumatic unloading of product obtained in the hoppertruck may be routed first through the vertically and horizontallydirected pipe sections and then into the pipeline tubing. In the area ofjuncture between the vertically and horizontally directed pipe sections,smooth internal transitional surfaces are provided which permit completeand continuous flow of product discharged from the hopper into thevertically directed pipe section, and subsequent flowing withoutimpedance into the generally horizontally extending pipe section, forentry into pipeline tubing connected thereto. An inner molded lininghaving a low coefficient of friction conforming to the smooth internaltransitional surfaces is also disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,015 discloses a one piece cast hopper tee having avertically directed hollow pipe section with a flange at an upper endthereof for attachment to the bottom of a hopper truck. The bottom endof the vertical pipe section flares outward at the juncture with ahorizontal pipe section creating an elliptical opening from the verticalpipe into the horizontal pipe. In the area of juncture between the twopipes smooth and uninterrupted internal transition surfaces are providedto permit complete and continuous flow of product from the vertical pipeto the horizontal pipe. A pair of wear saddles, one on each side of theexternal juncture of the flared section of vertical pipe with thehorizontal pipe create wear resistant areas having approximately doublethe wall thickness of the pipe sections. A substantially thicker wallsection is formed in the horizontal pipe opposite the ellipticalopening.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0307262 discloses a hoppertee having a horizontal portion through which granular material isunloaded from a tank trailer or hopper car. The hopper tee integrallyforms a vertical segment, that secures with the bottom of the hopper, toprovide for unloading of granular material for usage or storage. Theupper front portion of the tee, as it transitions from its verticalsegment to the horizontal flow path has secured or cast therewith aledge, that provides for accumulation of the unloading granular materialtherein, to function as a wear pad to resist against abrasion, andaccelerated wear out, of the tee, at that location, during prolongedusage.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0333779 discloses a hoppertee for redirecting the flow of material from one passage to anotherpassage, the hopper tee including a radius providing a transitionbetween the passages. A port at the exterior of the radius includes anupwardly-open cavity having a bottom wall disposed within the radius andforming a sacrificial wall extending between the bottom wall and theinner surface of the radius. The cavity provides an indication thatmaterial moving through the tee has worn the wall of the radius by thecreation of a passage between the interior of the tee and the cavity andexpelling material through the passage to the exterior of the tee. Aplug is secured within the cavity allowing a user to continue to use thetee until the tee is rotated or replaced. The radius includes athickened wall for providing added structural support and sacrificialmaterial.

Each hopper tee described above is designed to address the problem awear resulting from the impact of particulates such as sand, gravel andgrains, as the particulates empty into and travel through the hoppertee. A shortcoming of each of the hopper tees designs is that, whilethey may prolong the life of the hopper tees, they all require eitherexpensive repairs or replacement of the entire hopper tee upon therebeing wear damage to any part of the hopper tee. Accordingly, there isneeded a method by which those portions of the hopper tee that mostoften suffer wear damage can be easily removed and replaced, whilecontinuing to make use of the undamaged portions of the hopper tee.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a modular bottom drop hopper teeincluding a modified tee box, a tee box liner, a readily detachableinflow adapter and a readily detachable outflow adapter, the liner andadapters being manufactured from a polymer such as a thermoplasticand/or elastomeric polymer. An exemplary polymer is polyurethane. Thehopper tee is used at the base of dry bulk tank hoppers and can be usedas either a straight tee by using pneumatic conveyance, or a bottom droptee by gravity dropping dry goods through the bottom of the hopper tee.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a hopper teeincluding a box having a continuous sidewall, an upper opening, a loweropening, a first side wall opening and a second sidewall openingarranged opposite to the first sidewall opening. A flange having aflange opening is coupled to a top of the box, the flange opening beingarranged to provide access into the box through the upper opening. Anelastomeric polymer liner covers the entirety of an inner surface of thecontinuous sidewall and a lower surface portion of the flange that isbounded by the top of the box. The liner can be molded apart from thebox and then adhered within the box, or it can be molded directly withinthe box using means known in the art. For example, the inner surface ofthe box can be textured by sandblasting and then coated with a bondingagent. A mold can then be inserted into the box and molten polyurethanepoured between the box and mold.

An elastomeric polymer first adapter is detachably coupled with thefirst sidewall opening. The first adapter includes a flange portion anda cylinder portion extending through the flange portion, the flangeportion being detachably coupled to the box and dividing the cylinderportion into a first portion that extends through the first sidewallopening and a second portion that is located outside of the box. Thefirst portion of the cylinder portion has a free end that is flush withan inner surface of the liner and includes a curved or angled annularsurface. The curved or angled annular surface is arranged within the boxat a location that often suffers from wear damage. A second adapterhaving a design identical to that of the first adapter is fluidlycoupled to the second sidewall opening.

When the first adapter is damaged or worn, it can be replaced byunbolting the flange portion from the box and fluidly coupling anelastomeric polymer third adapter to the first side wall opening. Unlikeconventional hopper tees, the first adapter can be replaced withoutremoving the hopper tee from a hopper trailer or bulk hopper.Alternatively, the operational life of the hopper tee can be prolongedby detaching the flange from a trailer hopper, uncoupling the firstadapter from an outflow pipe, uncoupling the second adapter from aninflow pipe and rotating the box 180°. The flange and box are thenreattached to the hopper trailer with the first adapter being coupled tothe inflow pipe and the second adapter being coupled to the inflow pipe.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a hoppertee including a metal box attached to an outlet of a trailer hopper. Anelastomeric polymer liner is located within the box, the liner having acontinuous sidewall, a top opening arranged to receive a particulatematerial from the outlet of the trailer hopper, a first sidewall openingand a second sidewall opening that is opposite the first sidewallopening. An elastomeric polymer first adapter having a first cylinderportion is inserted into the first side wall opening and sealinglyengaged with the liner. A second cylinder portion is located outside ofthe box and coupled to a pipe that is operatively coupled to a secondhopper tee.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is depicted ahopper tee including a box operatively coupled to an outlet of a trailerhopper, the box including a selectively closable bottom door and anelastomeric polymer liner having a top opening, a first sidewall openingand a second sidewall opening that is substantially opposite the firstsidewall opening. An elastomeric polymer first adapter having a firstcylinder portion is inserted into the first sidewall opening and engagedwith the liner. A second cylinder portion is located outside of the boxand coupled to a pipe that is operatively coupled to a second trailerhopper. The first cylinder portion has a free end that is flush with aninner surface of the liner and that includes a curved annular surface. Areinforcing metal cylinder member surrounds an exterior surface of thesecond cylinder portion and extends into of the first cylinder portionwhere it is embedded to ensure a sealing engagement of the first portionwith the polymer liner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a first side of a modular bottomdrop hopper tee in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a second side of the hopper tee ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of the hopper tee of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bottom the hopper tee of FIG. 1showing a welded tee box door in a closed position.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the hopper tee of FIG. 1 coupled to anoutlet of a hopper illustrating a particulate material flow from thehopper, into the hopper tee and out of an outflow adapter of the hoppertee.

FIG. 6 depicts the outflow adapter of FIG. 5 detached from the hoppertee.

FIG. 7 is a partially exploded view of a bottom of the hopper tee ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a partially exploded view of the first side of the hopper teeof FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an adapter of the hopper tee of FIG. 1.FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the hopper tee of FIG. 1 illustrating aVictaulic coupler coupled to an outflow adapter of the hopper tee.

FIG. 11 is a 90% cut-away view of the hopper tee of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a metal-reinforced adapter in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed to a modular hopper tee 10 including ametal box 12 having a continuous sidewall, an open top, an open bottom14, a first sidewall opening 16 and a second sidewall opening 18arranged opposite to and aligned with the first sidewall opening. Aflange 19 is attached to the open top of box 12 for coupling box 12 to abulk hopper outlet, the flange including an inlet 20 for receiving dry,particulate materials such as sand, gravel and grains, from the hopper.A door 22 is pivotally coupled to box 12 and arranged to selectivelyclose open bottom 14 when hopper tee 10 is to be used as a straight teefor pneumatic conveyance of materials, or uncover open bottom 14 whenhopper tee 10 is to be used for gravity dropping of particulatematerials out of box 12. An elastomeric polymer outflow adapter 24 isdetachably coupled with first sidewall opening 16 for directingmaterials out of box 12, and an elastomeric polymer inflow adapter 26 isdetachably coupled with second sidewall opening 18 for directing forcedair and, optionally, additional particulate materials, into box 12. Anelastomeric polymer box liner 28 covers an inner surface of box 12 andsealingly engages with adapters 24 and 26 so that the particulatematerials, when pneumatically conveyed through the box and adapters, donot contact and thereby wear down any metal portion of the box 10. Inthis manner, adapters 24 and 26 and liner 28 are configured to prolongthe operational life of hopper tee 10 and, additionally, allow fordamaged portions of hopper tee 10 to be easily and quickly repaired.Such repairs, unlike convention hopper tee repairs, can be made whilehopper tee 10 remains attached to the bulk hopper outlet.

More particularly, as depicted in FIGS. 1 through 3 and 7, box 12includes four vertically extending walls including a first wall 30, asecond wall 32, a third wall 34 and a fourth wall 36, the upper edgesthereof defining the open top of box 12 and the lower edges thereofdefining open bottom 14. First sidewall opening 16 extends through firstwall 30, and second sidewall opening 18 extends through second wall 32.Located about each of openings 16 and 18 are four bolt holes 38 forattaching adapters 24 and 26, respectively, to box 12 using bolts 11.Bolt 38 holes may be smooth or threaded. While box 12 is shown asforming a square enclosure, it is understood that box 12 can form arectangular enclosure, a circular enclosure or any other shapedenclosure known in the art.

Welded to the upper edges of walls 30, 32, 34 and 36 is metal flange 19.Flange 19 forms a continuous seal about the open top of box 12. Flange19 includes an overhang portion 40 extending outside and entirely aroundthe periphery of box 12 and another portion located inside of theperiphery of box 12 that partially encloses the open top of box 12 andthereby forms a top wall 42 of box 12. Inlet 20 extends through top wall42 and provides a pathway by which a particulate material may be droppedinto and through box 12 from a bulk hopper. Extending through overhangportion 40 is a plurality of bolts holes 44. Bolt holes 44 are used forfastening box tee 10 a bulk hopper.

The square enclosure defined by top wall 68 and vertical walls 30, 32,34 and 36 of box 12 is selectively accessible through open bottom 14 bypivoting door 22 between an open orientation, as depicted in FIGS. 7 and8, and a sealed, closed orientation, as depicted in FIGS. 4, 5 and 11.Door 22 is a square metal member having a first wing portion 46 and asecond wing portion 48, each wing portion extending from a respectiveedge of the door. First wing portion 46 is pivotally coupled at point 47to a first complementary wing 50 extending out perpendicularly from wall36 of box 12. When in the closed orientation, second wing portion 48 anddoor 22 are rotated about point 47 so that a bolt opening 54 in secondwing portion 48 becomes aligned with a slot 56 in second complementarywing 52. A bolt 57, which is fixed within bolt hole 54, and a wingnut 58are used to immobilize door 22 in the closed orientation by tighteningwingnut 58 against second complementary wing 52. When it is desired touncover open bottom 14, either to access the interior of box 12 orgravity drop particulate materials through box 12, wingnut 58 isloosened, which allows door 22 to pivot into the open orientation.

Located within box 12 is liner 28. As depicted in FIG. 7, liner 28covers the entirety of the inner surfaces of walls 30, 32, 34, 36 and 42of box 12. To that end, liner 28 includes four vertical walls includinga first complementary wall 60, a second complementary wall 62, a thirdcomplementary wall 64, a fourth complementary wall 66 and a topcomplementary wall 68 which covers and protects respective walls 30, 32,34, 36 and 42 of box 12. Liner 28 further includes an open bottom 70, acomplementary first sidewall opening 72, a second complementary sidewallopening 74 arranged opposite to and aligned with the first complementarysidewall opening and a complementary inlet 76, each of which is alignedwith and configured for allowing access through respective openings 14,16, 18 and 20 of box 12. As depicted in FIG. 7, each of complementarywalls 60 and 62 has an increased thickness relative to walls 30, 32, 34and 36 of box 12 and complementary walls 64 and 66 of liner 28. This isbecause portions of complementary walls 60 and 62, especially thosesections that are adjacent the top edges of complementary openings 72and 74, undergo greater wear when hopper tee 10 is in use than otherportions of liner 28 that are not located in the primary pathway of theflowing particulate material. Preferably, complementary walls 60 and 62of liner 28 are at least twice as thick as complementary wall 64 and 66.

Operatively coupled to complementary sidewall openings 72 and 74 areoutflow adapter 24 and inflow adapter 26, respectively. It should beunderstood that outflow adapter 24 and inflow adapter 26 areinterchangeable and identical to one another. What distinguishesadapters 24 and 26 is their orientation with hopper tee 10 when hoppertee 10 is coupled with a bulk hopper. An adapter is an outflow adapterwhen hopper tee 10 is arranged relative to the bulk hopper so thatparticulate materials exit box 12 through the adapter. An adapter is aninflow adapter when hopper tee 10 is arranged so that air and,optionally, particulate materials enter box 12 through the adapter.

Referring to FIG. 9, each of adapters 24 and 26 includes a flangeportion 78 and a cylinder portion extending through the flange portion,the flange portion dividing the cylinder portion into a first cylinderportion 80 that is extends through first sidewall opening 16 andcomplementary first sidewall opening 72 and a second cylinder portion 82that is located outside of box 12 and configured for coupling to a pipe.An annular depression 84 extends around second portion 82 therebyallowing the second portion to be coupled to the pipe using a Victauliccoupler 86, for example, as shown in FIG. 10. Thus, adapters 24 and 26can be attached to and detached from inflow and outflow pipes of a bulkhopper system without having to weld or cut the pipes or the adpaters.

Bolt holes 88 extend through flange portion 78 for attaching adapters 24and 26 to box 12 using bolts 11. Bolts 11 extend through bolt holes 38in box 12 and into liner 28. Each of bolts 11 has a threaded end portionwhich mates with threaded openings (not shown) in complementary walls 60and 62 of liner 28. The threaded openings extend only partially throughwalls 60 and 62. As depicted in FIGS. 3, 8 and 11, first cylinderportion 80 has a free end that includes a curved or angled surface 81.When inserted into box 12 and liner 28, curved or angled surface 81 isflush with the inner surface of liner 28 (see 83 at FIG. 11). Thisensures that no lip or overhang is present between the inner surface ofthe liner and the adapters which could exacerbate wearing of liner 28 orfirst cylinder portions of adapters 24 and 26.

An alternative adapter 90 is depicted in FIG. 12. Like adapters 24 and26, adapter 90 can function as an outflow or an inflow adapter. Adapter90 includes a reinforcing metal cylinder member 92. Metal cylindermember 92 is concentrically arranged with the cylinder portion ofadapter 90. Specifically, metal cylinder member 90 is concentricallyarranged around an outside surface of second portion 82 of adapter 90,so that it is exposed and forms an outer surface portion of the adapter,but it is embedded within first portion 80, so that plastic to plasticcontact is made between adapter 90 and liner 28. Metal cylinder member92 increases the rigidity of adapter 90, relative to adapters 24 and 26,and provides a metal surface with which Victaulic coupler 86 candirectly engage thereby improving the strength and rigidity ofattachment of the coupler to the adapter.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, flange 19 is operatively coupled to atrailer bulk hopper 100. Bulk hopper 100 includes a butterfly valve 102arranged to selectively empty dry, particulate material contents 104 ofthe bulk hopper through flange inlet 20 and complementary inlet 76 ofliner 28 into box 12. Door 22 is arranged in an open orientation whenhopper tee 10 is to be used for gravity dropping of particulatematerials out of box 12 through open bottom 14. Door 22 is arranged in aclosed orientation when hopper tee 10 is to be used as a straight teefor pneumatic conveyance of materials. In this instance, a flow of airenters into box 10 from a pipe 106 which is fluidly coupled with inflowadapter 26. Pipe 106 may carry only air, or in the instance whereanother hopper tee is located upstream of and in fluid communicationwith hopper tee 10, pipe 106 may carry particulate material entrainedwithin the airflow. As the airflow passes through box 12, it forcescontents 104 to exit box 10 through outflow adapter 24 and into anotherpipe 108. Pipe 108 may carry contents 104 to another hopper tee ordeposit the contents at an unloading site.

As contents 104 pass through box 12, contents 104 cause wearing of liner28 and outflow adapter 24, particularly along the top section of thefree end of first cylinder portion 80 of the outflow adapter. Accordingto the present invention, as portions of adapters 24 and 26 become wornthey are independently replaced. For example, when outflow adapter 24 isdamaged, the outflow adapter is unbolted from box 12 and uncoupled frompipe 108. The damaged outflow adapter is then removed from box 12 andreplaced with another outflow adapter having the same design as outflowadapter 24. The damaged outflow adapter is thereby replaced withouthaving to remove hopper tee 10 from bulk hopper 100. Since outflowadapter 24 wears at an increased rate relative to inflow adapter 26, itis possible to increase the operational life of hopper tee 10 withoutreplacing any portion of the hopper tee by detaching hopper tee 10 fromhopper 100 and pipes 106 and 108, rotating hopper tee 180° andreattaching hopper tee 10 to hopper 100 so that adapter 26 is nowattached directly to pipe 108 and adapter 24 is attached to pipe 106.

When liner 28 becomes worn it can be replaced by any means known in theart. For example, box 12, with adapters 24 and 26 removed, can be heatedto a temperature that is between the melting temperatures of the metalof box 12 and the plastic of liner 28 which thereby melts the liner sothat it may flow out of the box. In those instances where liner 28 ismolded within box 12, liner 28 can be removed from box 12 by heating thebox and liner to a temperature sufficient to degrade the bonding agentthereby causing the liner to release from the box. Alternatively, liner28 can be removed from box 12 be chipping or scraping portions of theliner away from box 12 using tools such as scrapers, grinders,screwdrivers and crowbars. After the damaged liner is removed, the innersurface of box 12 is sanded and cleaned, and a new liner 28 is locatedwithin box 12.

As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, various modifications canbe made within the scope of the aforesaid description. Suchmodifications being within the ability of one skilled in the art form apart of the present invention and are embraced by the claims below.

It is claimed:
 1. A hopper tee comprising: a box having a continuoussidewall, an upper opening, a lower opening, a first side wall openingand a second sidewall opening arranged opposite to the first sidewallopening, a flange having a flange opening, the flange being coupled to atop of the box and the flange opening being arranged to provide accessinto the box through the upper opening, a polymer first adapterdetachably coupled with the first sidewall opening, and a polymer linercovering an inner surface of the continuous sidewall.
 2. The hopper teeof claim 1 wherein the liner entirely covers an inner surface of thecontinuous sidewall.
 3. The hopper tee of claim 1 wherein the linercovers a lower surface portion of the flange that is bounded by the topof the box.
 4. The hopper tee of claim 1 wherein the first adapterincludes a flange portion and a cylinder portion extending through theflange portion, the flange portion dividing the cylinder portion into afirst portion that extends through the first sidewall opening and asecond portion that is located outside of the box.
 5. The hopper tee ofclaim 4 wherein the first portion of the cylinder portion has a free endthat is flush with an inner surface of the liner.
 6. The hopper tee ofclaim 5 wherein the free end includes a curved annular surface.
 7. Thehopper tee of claim 4 wherein the flange portion is detachably coupledto the box.
 8. The hopper tee of claim 4 comprising a pipe detachablycoupled to the second portion of the cylinder portion of the firstadapter.
 9. The hopper tee of claim 8 wherein the second portion of thecylinder portion includes a Victaulic connection ring.
 10. The hoppertee of claim 1 wherein the liner includes a first wall portion having afirst liner opening that is aligned with the first sidewall opening ofthe box, a second wall portion having a second liner opening that isaligned with the second sidewall opening of the box, and a third wallportion extending to and between the first wall portion and the secondwall portion, the first wall portion having a thickness that is at leasttwice as thick as the third wall portion.
 11. The hopper tee of claim 1wherein the flange is operatively coupled to a trailer hopper includinga butterfly valve arranged to selectively empty contents of the trailerhopper through the upper opening of the box.
 12. The hopper tee of claim11 comprising an elastomeric polymer second adapter detachably coupledwith the second sidewall opening.
 13. A method a repairing the hoppertee of claim 8 comprising replacing the first adapter by unbolting theflange portion of the first adapter from the box, uncoupling the firstadapter from a first pipe and fluidly coupling an elastomeric polymerthird adapter between the first pipe and the first side wall opening.14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first adapter is replaced withoutremoving the hopper tee from a hopper trailer.
 15. A method ofprolonging the operational life of the hopper tee of claim 12 comprisingdetaching the flange from the trailer hopper, uncoupling the firstadapter from an outflow pipe, uncoupling the second adapter from aninflow pipe, rotating the box 180°, reattaching the flange to the hoppertrailer, coupling the first adapter to the inflow pipe and the couplingthe second adapter to the inflow pipe.
 16. A hopper tee comprising, ametal box attached to an outlet of a trailer hopper, a polymer linerlocated within the box, the liner having a continuous sidewall, a topopening arranged to receive a particulate material from the outlet ofthe trailer hopper, a first sidewall opening and a second sidewallopening that is opposite the first sidewall opening, and a polymer firstadapter having a first cylinder portion inserted into the first sidewall opening and sealingly engaged with the liner and a second cylinderportion located outside of the box and coupled to a pipe that isoperatively coupled to a second hopper tee.
 17. The hopper tee of claim16 wherein the first cylinder portion has a free end that is flush withan inner surface of the liner, wherein the free end includes a curvedannular surface.
 18. The hopper tee of claim 17 comprising athermoplastic polymer second adapter having a first cylinder portioninserted into the second side wall opening and sealingly engaged withthe liner and a second cylinder portion located outside of the box andcoupled to a pipe that is operatively coupled to an incoming source ofair.
 19. A hopper tee comprising, a box operatively coupled to an outletof a trailer hopper, the box including a selectively closable bottomdoor and a polymer liner having a top opening, a first sidewall openingand a second sidewall opening that is substantially opposite the firstsidewall opening, and a polymer first adapter having a first cylinderportion inserted into the first sidewall opening and engaged with theliner and a second cylinder portion located outside of the box andcoupled to a pipe that is operatively coupled to a second trailerhopper.
 20. The hopper tee of claim 19 wherein the first cylinderportion has a free end that is flush with an inner surface of the linerand that includes a curved annular surface.
 21. The hopper tee of claim19 wherein the first cylinder includes a metal cylinder member thatsurrounds an exterior surface of the second cylinder portion and that isembedded within the first cylinder portion.
 22. The hopper tee of claim19 wherein the polymer liner and first adapter are a polyurethane linerand a polyurethane first adapter, respectively.
 23. A method ofrepairing a hopper tee having a damaged polymer liner comprising:uncoupling the hopper tee from a bulk hopper, removing the damagedpolymer liner from the hopper tee, and installing a second liner withinthe hopper tee.
 24. The method of claim 1 comprising heating the hoppertee and the damaged polymer liner to a temperature sufficient to releasethe damaged polymer liner from the hopper tee.
 25. The method of claim24 wherein the temperature is above a melting point of the damagedpolymer liner.
 26. The method of claim 23 wherein installing the secondliner includes molding the second liner within the hopper tee.
 27. Amethod of repairing a modular hopper tee having a damaged polymeradapter comprising: uncoupling the damaged polymer adapter from thehopper tee, uncoupling the damaged polymer adapter from a pipe, andcoupling a second polymer adapter to and between the hopper tee and thepipe.
 28. The method of claim 27 comprising unbolting the damagedpolymer adapter from the hopper tee.
 29. The method of claim 27 whereinuncoupling the damaged polymer adapter from the pipe includesmanipulating a Victaulic coupler.
 30. The method of claim 27 comprisingbolting the second polymer adapter to the hopper tee.
 31. The method ofclaim 27 wherein uncoupling the damaged polymer adapter from the hoppertee, uncoupling the damaged polymer adapter from the pipe and couplingthe second polymer adapter to and between the hopper tee and the pipeoccur while the hopper tee is coupled to a bulk hopper.